Online Newsletter

Excerpted from our print newsletter. See the printed newsletter for detailed
Field Trip directions and reports, for phone and addresses for yard visits and
additional articles. Join now to obtain
the benefits of full membership!

NEXT MEETING IN DADE COUNTY

Tuesday, June 24, 7:30 p.m. at Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden, Corbin Building, 10901 Old Cutler Road. Free and open to the public. Refreshments begin at 7:15; merchandise sales are before and after the program
(cash/checks only).

"Growing Great Natives from A to Xeriscape" - Jeff Wasielewski, Horticultural Consultant

Jeff will cover everything you need to know to turn your yard
into a lush garden paradise. Topics will include South Florida soils, plant
selection, planting, benefits of mulching, watering, pest control and low maintenance
yards. Jeff is a certified arborist and horticultural consultant. You can
visit his website at www.southfloridahorticulture.com or read his monthly column in Family magazine. He has his own garden
paradise with a mix of natives and exotics, and a water feature. Jeff has been
working with and studying plants for 16 years. He has a degree in
horticulture from MDC and a Master's in Education from UM. He teaches
horticulture at Fairchild and MDC and has presented numerous programs for
chapter meetings and Native Plant Day. His full time job is as a reading
coach for Miami-Dade Public Schools. Jeff is the proud father of a seven
year old junior horticulturist, Samantha. He was drawn to horticulture in 1992
after Hurricane Andrew -- he loved being outside to clean up!

July meeting - not the usual
night or place.
Our annual Evening Yard Visit & Social Meeting (for members and their
guests) is Saturday, July 19, 6-8 p.m. at a member’s home in the
Redland. Details in the July Tillandsia. Preview: potluck, family
invited, swimming pool available, lush planted hammock, deep pond and more. If
you went to the yard visit there 2 years ago, you'll want to see the current
version!

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS (DADE)

Field trips are for the study of plants and enjoyment of nature by
FNPS members (Dade and Keys) and their invited guests. Children are welcome.
Details are contained in the printed newsletter mailed each month to members.
Collecting is not permitted. Please join
today so that you can enjoy all the benefits of membership!

Sunday, June 29: Amelia Earhart Park, 9 a.m. - noon.

This park
has never been visited by DCFNPS, but it contains freshwater wetlands in the
northern portions. Although disturbed, there are many species not found
in the southern parts of Miami-Dade County, so it should prove interesting. http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/Parks/amelia_earhart.asp

Leader: Steve Woodmansee (786-488-3101)

Difficulty: Moderate, could get wet feet.

Bring/wear: Water, sun protection, shoes that can get wet, long pants
advisable since we don’t know what we'll be walking in.

For
details, please see the printed
newsletter.

Post-field trip suggestion:

Gratigny Expressway interchange, NW 138th St and Palmetto
Exwy. Site of award-winning wetlands restoration/landscape designed by
Landscape Architect Chuck Alden (at the time a Miami-Dade resident and DCFNPS
member) and sponsored by Florida DOT. Regional natives were planted on 6.5 acres
of wetland and 15 of upland beginning in 1990. FDOT has not maintained it recently
and the local Expressway authority has not picked up maintenance, so exotics
are now invading. From NW 122 St., go north on the frontage road east of the
Palmetto to 138 St., turn right, go 100 yards, park on the right.

Learn to ID plants: If you would
like help, please let it be known – we’ll introduce you to
good people to stick close to. A plant list may be obtained
for this site by visiting The Institute for Regional Conservation website at www.regionalconservation.org,
and registering and then logging onto the Floristic Inventory of South Florida
online database.

Ted Schaeffer and Patty Harris were at-large board members
this past term, and Robert Harris was Vice-President. Keith Bradley is a former
chapter president, while Jose is new to the board.

Almost twenty years ago, my father was a member of the
DCFNPS. The plants he brought home from the raffles and planted in our yard
drew me to pursue my hobby in native plants. I initially joined the society
when still in high school. I came back to the society after completing college
in 2003 and rejoined. I started volunteering with plant sales and Native Plant
Day and eventually became Vice-President two years ago. I encourage the
membership to volunteer as much as they can. It leads to the greatest sense of
satisfaction and is probably the best way to expand one’s horizons in the field
of South Florida native plants. I have enjoyed my time serving on the board
and have learned a great deal from its wonderful members. I look forward to
continuing our society’s work and serving its members over the duration of my
term.-
Robert Harris, President

The bylaws were amended to
conform to what has been traditional practice of the chapter in recent years.
The annual reports from the Treasurer will appear in the Tillandsia and
will summarize all financial transactions for the year. Additionally, the bylaws
now state who will sit on the Budget Committee, which is tasked with preparing
a budget for the Chapter Board to approve prior to the start of the fiscal
year. The Budget Committee will be made up of the Treasurer, President,
Vice-President and one other director who the President will appoint.

A big thank you to Jennifer
Possley, our Chapter's past-Treasurer who proposed these by law changes.
The Budget Committee is but one of the Chapter's many committees that you might
like to join to serve the Chapter using your special talents. Contact any
member of the Board if you'd like to get even just a little bit more involved
with the Chapter sometime soon! - Amy Leonard, Past President

Please welcome and support the entire board. Continuing for
the remainder of their terms through May 2009 are: Jonathan Taylor (Secretary), Mark Bolla (Treasurer), Jan Kolb, Susan Walcutt, Lynka
Woodbury (Directors at Large). Amy Leonard is also a board member
as Past-President. Thanks to Steve Woodmansee, who retires as
Past-President but will continue to serve as a knowledgeable resource and lead
field trips. One At-Large position filled was that left vacant by the death of Mary Ann Bolla, who was a valued board member.

New board member bio: Keith Bradley was born
and raised in Miami where he was exposed to the local flora and fauna at an
early age by his parents and grandfather. Since 1995 he has worked for The
Institute for Regional Conservation, where he is currently Assistant Director,
and works to preserve the biodiversity of South Florida. He is a
past-president of the Dade Chapter of the FNPS (1998-2000), previously serving
as Vice-President, and was chairman of the FNPS State Conference Committee for
the 2000 conference hosted by the Dade Chapter. He is Chair of the Pine
Rockland Working Group, and Chair of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
Plant List Committee. (He is also a jokester who claims to have sprung from
Rachel Carson and Andy Warhol, and to have begun learning plant taxonomy as
soon as he started breathing, which we don't dispute.)

In a future issue we will introduce Jose Luciani, a student
at FIU, who is away for a few weeks. Biographies for returning board members
may be found in past online newsletters at http: //dade.fnpschapters.org
(July/Aug 2006 and 2007, Sept. 2006). - Patty Phares, Tillandsia Editor

FNPS AND CHAPTER NEWS AND NEEDS

Chapter Workday at Everglades
National Park: July 12, 9 a.m.-noon. Help
with our native plant habitat landscaping maintenance around the Coe Visitors
Center. Drinks, gloves and hand tools are provided, but you may want to bring
your own and also snacks to share and a water bottle. Bring sun
protection. Enjoy the afternoon in the park - your car gets in free after the
workday. Contact Gwen Burzycki (305-372-6569) for more info.

Can you help fold chapter
newsletters -- once in a while? With a
group or by yourself. Especially July 2-3. Please contact Jan Kolb
(305-378-6104 or jankolb123@yahoo.com ).

Can you be an assistant/ co/ alternate Web Master for the
chapter web site? Give Greg Ballinger -- who does a bang-up job 10
issues a year plus a Native Plant Day spread (thank you, Greg!) -- help or a
break. Please contact him via the web site.

KENWOODS Learning Center native
planting area needs your help to rescue it from exotic invasives. Please contact DCFNPS member Henry Block, Response Team
Coordinator, for the workday schedule (miamiblocks@bellsouth.net or 786
877-4509). For those not familiar with KENWOODS, it will give you a chance to
get some insight into the trials and tribulations of a 22 year old
award-winning schoolyard planting project. For veterans and old friends,
we will have plenty of time to reminisce. Kenwood K-8 school is on SW 79th St,
about 1/4 mile south of Kendall Drive. (Also a good place for birding!)

Miami-Dade Parks is requesting to
make a substantial deviation to plans at Miami-Dade Zoological Park to increase
the area and add new uses. (Read that: "This affects pinelands!")
Zoning Hearings, Tuesday, June 17, 6 pm, South Dade Gov't Center, 19710 SW 211
St.; Thursday, July 3, 9:30 am at the Board of County Commissioners Chambers.

Miami Blue Chapter,
North American Butterfly Association. See www.miamiblue.org or contact Elane
Nuehring, 305-666-5727 or miamiblue@bellsouth.net). June 21, July 19: Butterfly
counts, several locations. July 25-27:Butterfly Days at
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Butterfly plants for sale, kids' butterfly activities, educational
displays, lectures by national and international
experts, on many aspects of butterflies. This year's theme is "The
Blue Butterflies" and their life-styles.

NEWS FROM THE FNPS
CONFERENCE

The
FNPS Annual Conference in Palmetto on May 15-18 was attended by at least 20
Dade chapter members hailing from Miami-Dade, Monroe and Broward Counties.
Several were vendors or speakers or attended FNPS committee meetings, while
others were there just to learn and enjoy the event. One young member attended
the Children's Conference. Congratulations to the following for their
achievements!

Steve Woodmansee was elected Vice-President for
Finance. He is a DCFNPS member who you already know well!

Wes Brooks received 2 awards (in absentia).
Wes is a graduate student at Rutgers who continues to be active in his home
town on his frequent visits. He has been a member of DCFNPS since joining as a
Killian high school student.

Conservation Grant Award
($2500): "Establishing an
Experimental Hammock Community in South Florida" This project is sponsored by
the Dade Chapter and will be conducted by Wes Brooks as part of the
research he is conducting to receive a Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers
University. The project will take place on a 4-acre woodlot
that prior to the lowering of the regional water table with
the dredging out of Snapper Creek Canal was likely an
ecotonal interface between mesic hammock, tranverse glade, and pine
rockland communities. The site is owned by the county and is
adjacent to the county's 110-acre Kendall Indian Hammocks Park and has been heavily
invaded by exotic species, most notably Brazilian Pepper (Schinus
terebinthefolius), Shoe-button Ardisia (Ardisia elliptica), Rosary Peas (Abrus precatorius), and Burma Reed (Neyraudia
reynaudiana), along with other escapees from an adjacent nursery. Exotic species will be removed, and permanent study plots will be
established and monitored monthly to assess whether species richness and plant
density (manipulated in each plot by planting additional native trees and
shrubs) affect the recruitment and growth of other natives, as well as invasive
exotics. A display board highlighting the project,
including the importance of the results to conservation of county
lands and the contribution of FNPS, will be erected for public
viewing at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. The county will assist in the
eradication and control of exotic species.

Landscape Award:Residential, Homeowner Design This "mini-restoration" designed by Wes Brooks is the product of a trial and error
approach with the goal of combining a diverse assortment of
plants within a natural landscape setting in an extremely small space (Rockland
Hammock communities are great for this!). In all, over 200 native
plant species have been "re-introduced" to the zero-lot line
property in Kendall since 1999, with all exotics (including the lawn)
having long since been removed with the amazing patience (early on!!!) of the
property's owner- Wes' mother, Ana. The benefits of the landscaping
have included reduced energy bills, reduced yard flooding during
storms, and many visits by native insects, birds, reptiles, and
mammals not seen on the property before 1999.

Endowment Research Grant Awards ($2500). Two
of the three awards out of 27 applications went to students from Miami-Dade
County. The project summaries here are brief condensations of their
proposals. Please email the editor if you would like to read the complete
applications, which are both very interesting.

Tania Wyss came from Switzerland to the University of Miami as a graduate student in August 2006. She is interested in mycorrhizae and how they affect the establishment of plants, in particular, the Dade County pine because it is native and its populations tend to decline. She is studying with Dr. David Janos, who presented a program for DCFNPS in 2006.

"Do mycorrhizal fungi limit the
establishment of Pinus elliottii var. densa seedlings?Pinus elliottii var. densa is the keystone species of pine-rocklands which today cover less than 3% of
their original area in South Florida. Pinelands are declining because of human
activities such as clearing for urban development and changes in fire regime.
Additional factors, however, might affect pines. The two most widespread types
of mycorrhizas, ectomycorrhizas (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), differ
in the structures they form on and inside host roots, and in the benefits they
offer to host plants. In pine-rocklands in South Florida and pine flatwoods in
Central Florida, the canopy composed of South Florida slash pine forms ECM while
understory plants such as saw palmetto form AM. The research main objective is
to determine if ECM and AM fungi limit pine seedling establishment in palmetto
flatwoods from which adult pines are absent.

Beyte Barrios was born in a small town in Cuba and
grew up with a wealth of nature. She is now a Master’s student at FIU in the
plant ecology lab of Dr. Suzanne Koptur. She studied Biology at the University
of Havana, Cuba, and was a student assistant at the National Botanical Garden
in Havana. She especially loves ferns and became able to recognize the species
by their spores and determine the viability of the spores by their shape. In
Pinar del Rio, Cuba, she worked at The Natural History Museum as a research
assistant. After coming to Florida, she was a Biological Technician with the
USGS at Big Cypress National Preserve working on research in vegetation and
fire ecology of Cape Sable seaside sparrow habitat. As a Teaching Assistant at
FIU and recent immigrant, Beyte encourages minority students to see the many
opportunities in biology beside medical school. She intends to use her skills
and knowledge to advance the conservation of our natural environment.

"Fire, flowering, and
fragmentation: The effects of seasonal fire on the reproductive biology of
pineland allamanda (Angadenia berteroi), a rare shrub of the pine
rocklands." Habitat fragmentation and destruction of the natural
environment affect many aspects of the organisms and their life in it.
Fragmentation negatively affects communities by reducing and isolating
populations. The pine rockland ecosystem in sub-tropical south Florida has been
reduced and fragmented, so only a small portion remains intact, scattered among
many small patches. Fire is a vital force essential to the existence of the
pine-land ecosystem. Seasonal burns influence the vegetation structure and species
composition. Pine rockland plants have several adaptations to fire: some herbs
and shrubs resprout and grow rapidly after fire, other respond to burns with
improved growth, flowering, seed germination, and establishment of seedlings. Angadenia
berteroi is a native perennial shrub listed as threatened by FDACS. We
will quantify the effect of seasonal fires (summer vs. winter) on the
reproductive phenology of Angadenia berteroi in intact extensive pine
rockland habitat in Everglades National Park. We will compare pollination,
herbivory, seed predation and fruit initiation of A. berteroi in habitat
fragments of different sizes and degrees of isolation from intact habitat.

NATIVE NIGHT NIBBLES

Thanks to all those tireless
volunteers who have helped put yummy-in-our-tummy via the refreshment table at
our monthly meetings in Dade. Sometimes when you’re coming to our
meetings straight from a hectic day of work, a munchie and time to chat with
old and new friends is just what the doctor ordered. You’ll have to
admit, sometimes there have been some pretty outstanding efforts. We’ve
had some real goofs - what do you mean you forgot the cups! - and we’ve had
some spectacular themes - remember Mardi Gras? - or were you astounded when you
found out you’d just eaten cactus?

But the folks who count the most
are those who faithfully bring the old standbys that we’ve all come to love - Woody’s
deviled eggs and Jo’s sweet potato pies, Marge’s famous brownies and Sue’s
homemade quick breads. Month after month there are people like Mary who
offer “just let me know what I can bring to help.” Eve, Suzanne, Bea,
Donna, Lisa, Gwlady, Linda, Carrie, Lauren, Susan, Bobbe, Britton, Lee, Jim and
Vivian have added their personalities in their contributions to the splendid
table.

I would be remiss to leave out
those hands behind the scenes who help to set up and take down, without fail:
Carl, Robin and Daniel. But let me also thank those who have contributed
just plan ole cash to help defray some of the costs. They would be
embarrassed if I mentioned their names, so I will just give them a heartfelt
“thanks,” because they know who they are.

As chair of the Refreshment
Committee, I sometimes get all the credit, but I couldn’t have done it without
you who sign up monthly to contribute to the table. Here’s hoping you’ll
continue to contribute, and that new hands to step up and offer to ‘play with
the refreshment folks.’ Happy Summer to all, and keep those ants out of
the potato salad, will 'ya (that’s an inside joke).- Patty Harris, Board Member, Refreshment Coordinator

FAIRCHILD LAUNCHES THE CONNECT TO PROTECT NETWORK (CTPN)

By Joyce Maschinski and Scott Lewis

Plants
give us our sense of place in the world. Endemic plants (those that occur only
in a specific place or region) are treasures that help make our community
unique. Among South Florida’s precious gems that distinguish it as a special
place in the world are its Pine Rocklands and the rare plants that inhabit
them. Pine Rocklands are a globally endangered ecosystem, occurring only in
South Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba. They are known by their tall South Florida
slash pines (Pinus elliotii var. densa) and saw palmettos (Serenoa
repens), and they support 374 kinds of native plants, of which 31 are
endemic, five are listed as federally endangered, and five are candidates for
listing.

Rapid
development in South Florida has endangered Pine Rocklands and their rare
species. Once found extensively on limestone uplands from North Miami Beach to
Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park, today less than 2% of Pine Rocklands
remain as small fragments. Many of these remnants are protected by the
Miami-Dade Natural Areas Management (NAM) and Environmentally Endangered Lands
(EEL) programs, but some remain on unprotected public and private land.

At Fairchild, we are concerned about the persistence of the
rare and common plants of Pine Rocklands. Their high biodiversity provides us
with ecosystem services, such as fresh air, clean water and productive soils; food,
medicines and natural products that keep us healthy; economic benefits that
maintain a vigorous economy; and natural beauty for a higher quality of life.

Scientists
know that when habitats are fragmented, there are negative consequences for
rare species. In the case of Pine Rocklands, plant populations become isolated
and shrink in size. This reduces the opportunities for pollinators to find
flowers, which in turn may decrease seed production and the genetic health of
these populations. Thus, rare plants in Pine Rocklands become more vulnerable
to catastrophic events such as hurricanes, from which recovery becomes
increasingly less likely.

To aid
Pine Rockland plants, Fairchild launched a new project with funding support from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our goal is to create corridors or stepping
stones between existing Pine Rocklands to improve their health. Creating connections
among fragments will shorten the distance that bees, butterflies and birds must
travel to move seeds and pollen across developed areas. The interchange of
seeds and pollen improve gene flow, the genetic health of native plant species,
and the likelihood that these species will persist over the long term.

Meeting
this goal will require planting many native Pine Rockland species. In
preparation, we have collected seeds of Pine Rockland plants to learn about
their germination, storage and cultivation requirements. We have collaborated
with The Fairchild Challenge to engage students in helping to restore Pine
Rockland habitats and plant Pine Rockland native gardens on their school
grounds. In the 2007 Fairchild Challenge contest, for example, Miami Palmetto
High School student Yunxin Jiao designed the winning logo and suggested the
slogan, “Connect to Protect” for our initiative. Students have also submitted
posters describing the role that corridors can play to help pollinators move
among Pine Rockland natural areas.

To
realize this dream fully will require participation of many volunteers as well
as public and private landowners. Why should YOU join
our effort to connect Pine Rocklands?

Besides
preserving biodiversity and helping the rarest plant species in South Florida,
joining the Connect To Protect Network can benefit you and our community in
other ways. In these times of water restrictions and efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, planting or maintaining native plants in your
landscape reduces water use, installation and maintenance costs and fuel use.
Studies by University of Florida researchers indicate that using native plants
in landscapes can significantly lower expenses; installation costs were reduced
by one-third and maintenance costs by over three-quarters in a study that
compared landscaping with native wildflowers versus using St. Augustine turf
grass. Generally native plants do not require as many pesticides, fertilizers,
mowing or trimming as other plants. After establishment, native plants may not
require additional water. Reducing the use of pesticide, fertilizer, and
gas-powered equipment will improve water quality, cut air pollution and shrink
our carbon footprint.

Help us protect Pine Rocklands for future generations. You
can participate in the CTPN if you have existing Pine Rockland habitat on your
property or wish to restore Pine Rockland plants in a garden on your property
within Pine Rockland boundaries in Miami-Dade County. In 2008, as our funding
allows, Fairchild is committed to helping interested participants in these
ways:

give presentations to your
organization on CTPN's purpose

assist with organizing
and training volunteers to help clean up your Pine Rockland site and plant Pine
Rockland species

FIELD TRIP TO SEMINOLE WAYSIDE PARK

by Martin Roessler

On April 19, 2008, we visited Seminole Wayside Park, a 28
acre pine rockland managed by Miami-Dade County Parks. It contains rockland
pine habitat, hardwood hammock or coppice habitat, and a cleared area for
picnicking. See the printed newsletter for a detailed field trip report.

BLUEBERRIES IN MIAMI?

by Steven W. Woodmansee

While shopping at my local grocery store, I bought some
blueberries to make a pie for Mother’s Day. I was surprised at how expensive
they were, even on sale. Even more startling was that they were grown in
Winter Haven, Florida. I was unaware that blueberries are grown commercially
in Florida, but thinking it over my start lent its way to reason, given how
many native species occur here. I am uncertain what species I purchased (they
were delicious), but I was reminded of another blueberry which is found in our
own Miami-Dade County.

Blueberries are in the heath family (Ericaceae), a temperate
plant family whose species usually grow in acidic, nutrient poor, soils.
Thirty-three species in the Ericaceae are in Florida, five in the genus Vaccinium,
the taxonomic group blueberries are found in. One species, Vaccinium myrsinites, or shiny blueberry,
is found in the sandy soils of pineland communities in Miami-Dade.

Shiny blueberry grows to about 2 feet in height, and
possesses a profusion of white urn-shaped flowers that hang down and are white
in color with hues of pink. Fruits are dark-blue to black when ripe and
measure ¼ inch across. Mature fruits are quite tasty, and for some reason,
they taste better when exposed to sunlight on the plant. Leaves are small
(less than ½ inch long) and have stalked glands apparent when viewed with a loupe
(hand lens). Shiny blueberry possesses underground stems that spread
horizontally, creating patches of plants.

In Miami-Dade, shiny blueberry today grows in sandy pockets
of pine rockland, mesic flatwoods, and scrubby flatwoods plant communities. Plants
need full sun, and are difficult to grow unless soils are non-alkaline. If you
are fortunate to obtain a plant, it is recommended to grow it in acidic sandy
soil, and to not water it with well or tap water which are too alkaline for its
tastes. Rather, use rainwater, or if not available, distilled water. As with
all pineland plants, mulch is not recommended, but pine needles may be used to
help acidify the soil. Although not a commonly cultivated species, it would
make a great addition to one’s yard, especially when restoring a pineland and
where appropriate conditions occur. Imagine having fresh blueberries in the
late spring, right before the mangoes and Lychees begin to ripen. What a
wondrous place we live in…

The Dade Chapter Florida Native Plant Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
dedicated to the understanding and preservation of Florida's native flora
and natural areas, and promoting native plants in landscapes.

The chapter includes residents of Miami-Dade County and the Keys.
Meetings
in Miami-Dade County are on the 4th Tuesday of most months at Fairchild
Tropical Botanic Garden and are free and open to the public. Once a year,
instead of the usual meeting, members and their guests are invited to an
evening garden tour and social at a member's home.
Meetings in
the Keys are held on 3rd Tuesdays in November through April at varying locations
from Key Largo to Key West

Please send articles, announcements of local activities and news
of interest to the Dade Chapter PO Box or email to the editor (above) by
the 15th of each month to be considered for publication the following
month.